Category Archives: Penis envy

Recorded at Southern studios, London Dec 1980. Design by Crass at Exitstencil press. B6 is an unlisted track which was originally released as a flexi disc (321984/1F). Cover Sleeve – Front “What Vision Is Left And Is Anyone Asking? No More Than Â£2.25 – Crass, Penis Envy” Run-out groove etchings: Side A: “In her hands she has seduction-you’ve heard it all before”. Side B: “In his hands he has destruction-make love not war”

The third Crass LP, Penis Envy, was a radical departure from the first two albums and as such represents something of a milestone. It was released the same week as the Loving flexi scam, proving Crass were no idiots in the promotion department. Penis Envy is “the misuse of one of Freud’s more absurd theories”, as described by Penny Rimbaud to a radio interviewer in 1983.“When we first started, we were seen as a male boot band and this record certainly puts that straight – that our sensitivities are much wider than just that element.” In this respect, Penis Envy could be thought of as Crass’ first truly self-conscious recording. Having had plenty of time to reflect on the position they found themselves in, Penis Envy is the sound of the band trying to achieve something tangible and pre-conceived. The band heralded Penis Envy as their big feminist statement, though in truth it covered a broader range of topics, and with considerably more generosity to men than other feminist acts of the time. Indeed, it could be argued that the real theme of the record is love itself.The cover fea- tured a packaged rubber doll, none too subtly juxtaposed with back cover artwork of an animal being cut up in a slaughterhouse, and a collage of women in bondage.

Sounds Review

Other Pressings of Penis Envy have slightly different Covers

UK release pay no more than £3.00

Plastic Dreams Plastic instead of the pay no more

Blank Side

No More than $6.59 Dollars

No more than….

Poster

UpDate Dec 2012

Penis Envy Japanese release

1982 saw Penis Envy Released in Japan through a licensing deal with Rough Trade. (Japan RTl-25 (RTL-25 B) 1982. This Pressing is from from Tokuma Japan and the cover has a pink Obi

Penis Envy Test Pressing

Test press of Penis Envy pressed by Waddell co. I always though it was rare to see a white label or Test press of Crass records as they kept costs down, but over the last few years quite a few have made it on to the auction sites.

I’ll state from the beginning that Penis Envy is my favourite Crass album, so going back and hearing these songs again was a pleasure. Again the production is great, the album feel fresh and alive, I had the fortune to hear it playing through a great shop sound system at Hitsville in dusseldorf were you could hear every little tweak and string slide it was amazing. Beta Motel and Berkertex Bride are still massive songs but other like System Death and Poison in a Pretty Pill as well as others have benefited from the remaster.

Again beautifully packaged by Gee with a mini version of the original album cover, booklet and gatefold CD. Again you should go buy this and re-evaluate it for yourself, Penis Envy a truly brilliant album